"I don't back down," Cavanaugh said. "It's important that we call on the Lord."

John Jordan, the man who gave the prayer, was a friend of Cavanaugh and had been personally inspirational to her, she said.

East Memorial Baptist Church member Jordan's prayer asked God's forgiveness for same-sex marriage and taking prayer out of public schools. The prayer was given at a commission meeting on Alabama Power rates.

The three commissioners on the PSC rotate picking who from the community will lead the opening prayer. This practice is upheld in the Alabama Legislature and in Congress.

"Several people from out of state had a problem with it, but that's how we do things in Alabama," Cavanaugh said. "We need more prayer not less."

In a poll posted on AL.com, 79 percent of voters said the prayer was inappropriate for a public meeting.